CHICAGO - Former Marquette women's soccer standout Mary Luba has signed a professional contract with the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) Chicago Red Stars, guaranteeing her a roster spot with the club for the remainder of the 2015 season.

Luba, a 2014 All-BIG EAST First Team performer, received high praise and congratulations from her former head coach, Markus Roeders after inking her first pro deal.

"Mary has earned this opportunity and we couldn't be more thrilled and excited for her," said Roeders. "The Red Stars are among the top teams in the NWSL and Mary will help them in the playoff run as they pursue an NWSL championship. She has the talent, knowledge and passion to have an outstanding professional career. We are all very proud of her."

The contract comes on the heels of Luba's summer tenure with the Red Stars Reserves squad, when she ran with a team that won the Women's Premier Soccer League National Championship this July, along with former Marquette teammates Jacie Jermier, Morgan Proffitt and Ashley Handwork.

During her tenure with the Golden Eagles, the Shorewood, Wisconsin native was a steady performer, notching 21 goals, three of which were game-winners, 16 assists and 58 points, on 76 shots on goal in four seasons.

Behind her performance on the pitch, Luba gathered accolades from the BIG EAST Conference, as well as from national outlets. In addition to being named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2014, the midfielder was named to the 2014 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's All-Northeast Region Second Team, the 2013 All-BIG EAST Second Team, and was named the BIG EAST Tournament's Outstanding Offensive Player in 2013. Luba also earned BIG EAST All-Academic Team honors in 2013.

Luba will join the Red Stars just in time for their playoff push, which continues with their final home match of the season, a 4 p.m. CT tilt with the Houston Dash on Sept. 6, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.